Excess material detection device

Abstract

The utility model discloses an excess material detection device which is applied to excess material detection operation of a material box of unmanned operation equipment, at least one excess material detection station is arranged in the material box in the height direction of the material box, and the excess material detection device comprises a control mainboard and at least one capacitance level gage. The at least one capacitance level gage and the at least one excess material detection station are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence mode, each capacitance level gage is located on the corresponding excess material detection station, and each capacitance level gage is in signal connection with the control mainboard; the capacitance level gauges are used for detecting capacitance changes, caused by material level changes of the material boxes, on the corresponding excess material detection stations. According to the technical scheme, the excess material detection cost can be greatly reduced, and the excess material detection precision is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of agricultural devices, and in particular to a residual material detection device. Background Art

[0002] Currently, agricultural drones use two main methods to detect residual material in material bins during seeding operations: one is radar detection. This radar detection method is not only costly but also susceptible to the varying shapes of the bins and the fluidity of the medium. This leads to issues such as blind spots and unstable radar echo signals, which affect residual material detection accuracy. The other method uses weighing. The weighing sensor used in this method is susceptible to interference from the drone's high-frequency vibration and impact, resulting in poor stability and large fluctuations in the measured value, which in turn affects residual material detection accuracy. Furthermore, the measurement accuracy of this weighing sensor is significantly affected by the operating environment temperature, requiring multiple sets of temperature compensation calibration. Consequently, the higher the precision requirements of the weighing sensor, the higher the production cost, which significantly increases the detection cost of the weighing detection method. Utility Model Content

[0003] The embodiment of the present application provides a residual material detection device, which aims to improve the technical problems of the existing residual material detection methods of plant protection drones, such as high detection cost and low detection accuracy, which directly affect the efficiency and cost of the plant protection drone's sowing operation.

[0004] To this end, an embodiment of the present application provides a residual material detection device, which is applied to the residual material detection operation of the material box of unmanned operation equipment. At least one residual material detection station is set in the material box along its height direction.

[0005] The residual material detection device includes a control mainboard and at least one capacitive material level meter. At least one capacitive material level meter is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with at least one residual material detection station. Each capacitive material level meter is located at the corresponding residual material detection station, and each capacitive material level meter is connected to the control mainboard for signal transmission. The capacitive material level meter is used to detect changes in capacitance at the corresponding residual material detection station caused by changes in the material level of the material box.

[0006] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the capacitance level meter is a sweeping capacitance level meter.

[0007] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the sweeping-frequency capacitance level meter includes a capacitor plate and two electrodes, the capacitor plate is located on the corresponding residual material detection station, and the two electrodes are electrically connected to the capacitor plate respectively to form the sweeping-frequency capacitance level meter.

[0008] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the two electrodes are arranged at intervals, and the arrangement direction of the two electrodes is perpendicular to the height direction of the material box.

[0009] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the electrode is a low temperature coefficient metal electrode.

[0010] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the low temperature coefficient metal electrode is any one of a platinum electrode, a gold electrode and a nickel electrode.

[0011] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the residual material detection device further comprises a device housing, wherein a first installation station and at least one second installation station are provided in the device housing, wherein:

[0012] The first installation station is used to install the control mainboard;

[0013] At least one of the second installation stations is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with at least one of the residual material detection stations, and when the device housing is arranged in the material box, at least one of the second installation stations is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with at least one of the residual material detection stations, and each of the capacitive level meters is installed on a second installation station and is partially exposed on the surface of the device housing.

[0014] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the device housing includes a first surface, which is extended along the length direction of the device housing. The first surface is used to abut and fix the first inner wall in the material box when the residual material detection device is vertically installed in the material box. The first inner wall is extended along the height direction of the material box.

[0015] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the device housing further includes a second surface, the second surface extending along the length direction of the device housing, and the second surface is adjacent to or opposite to the first surface, and the second surface corresponds to at least one of the second installation stations and is provided with at least one probe opening, each of the probe openings being used to expose the probe of the capacitive level meter installed on the corresponding second installation station.

[0016] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the device housing includes a third surface, and the third surface is set at an angle of a preset angle to the length direction of the device housing. The third surface is used to abut and fix the second inner wall in the material box when the residual material detection device is installed at an angle in the material box, wherein the preset angle is 10° to 80°, and the second inner wall extends perpendicular to the height direction of the material box.

[0017] The residual material detection device provided by the technical solution of the present application can, through the above-mentioned structural arrangement, complete the residual material detection operation of the material box of the unmanned operation equipment with corresponding detection accuracy by arranging a corresponding number of capacitive material level meters at the corresponding residual material detection stations in the material box of the unmanned operation equipment according to the actual detection accuracy requirements. The entire residual material detection process only involves a few low-cost capacitive material level meters, so it can greatly reduce the cost of residual material detection while ensuring the accuracy of residual material detection. At the same time, since each residual material detection station performs corresponding material level detection through a corresponding capacitance level meter, and the capacitance level meter can be used to detect the capacitance change at the corresponding residual material detection station caused by the material level change of the material box, that is, the residual material detection device only needs to obtain the capacitance change of each capacitance level meter to realize accurate residual material detection operation of the material box of the unmanned operation equipment. During the entire residual material detection process, it is not susceptible to the different shapes of the material box and the fluidity of the medium, such as the detection blind spots and unstable radar echo signals that affect the residual material detection accuracy, as in the radar detection method. It is also not susceptible to the high-frequency vibration and impact interference of the drone, such as the poor stability of the residual material detection value, which affects the residual material detection accuracy, as in the weighing detection method. In addition, the capacitance level meter can operate in harsh environments such as high and low temperatures and strong magnetic fields, that is, no additional temperature compensation calibration or the setting of corresponding anti-magnetic structures are required. Therefore, it can further ensure the accuracy of residual material detection while effectively reducing the overall power consumption or overall cost of the residual material detection device. It can be seen that this technical solution can effectively improve the existing problems of residual material detection methods of plant protection drones, such as high detection cost and low detection accuracy, which directly affect the efficiency and cost of plant protection drone sowing operations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a residual material detection device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of the residual material detection device is shown.

[0021] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0022] 100. Residual material detection device; 110. Control main board; 120. Capacitive material level meter; 121. Capacitor plate; 122. Electrode; 130. Device housing; 131. First surface; 132. Second surface; 133. Third surface.

[0023] The realization of the objectives, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0025] It should be noted that all directional indications in the embodiments of the present application (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the various components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0026] In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. in this application are for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the fact that they can be implemented by ordinary technicians in this field. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by this application.

[0027] In one embodiment, Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, an embodiment of the present application provides a residual material detection device 100, which is specifically applied to the residual material detection operation of the material box of unmanned operation equipment. At least one residual material detection station is provided in the material box along its height direction. The residual material detection device 100 may specifically include a control motherboard 110 and at least one capacitive material level meter 120. The at least one capacitive material level meter 120 is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the at least one residual material detection station. Each capacitive material level meter 120 is located at a corresponding residual material detection station, and each capacitive material level meter 120 is signal-connected to the control motherboard 110. The capacitive material level meter 120 can be specifically used to detect changes in capacitance at the corresponding residual material detection station caused by changes in the material level of the material box.

[0028] It can be understood that the residual material detection device 100 of the embodiment of the present application can be specifically applied to the residual material detection operation of the material box of unmanned operation equipment, and the unmanned operation equipment can specifically be a plant protection drone or a plant protection unmanned vehicle, that is, the residual material detection device 100 of the embodiment of the present application can perform accurate residual material detection on the material box of the plant protection drone or the plant protection unmanned vehicle when performing sowing operations, so as to ensure that when the material box is short of residual material, the relevant operators can be reminded in time to replenish the residual material in the material box. The control mainboard 110 mentioned above can specifically adopt a multi-channel design (the number of specific channels can be adjusted accordingly according to the number of capacitance level meters 120), so that it can make corresponding signal connections with one of the capacitance level meters 120 through each channel, wherein each capacitance level meter 120 can transmit the signal to the corresponding channel through a shielded wire. When only one residual material detection station is set in the material box along its height direction, the residual material detection station can be specifically set at a position relatively close to the bottom of the material box, so that when the capacitance material level meter 120 corresponding to the residual material detection station reports empty, it can promptly remind the relevant operating personnel that the material box reports empty, or the residual material in the material box is less than a preset threshold value (the preset threshold value is generally small to ensure that it can truly reflect the situation of insufficient residual material). When two or more residual material detection stations are set in the material box along its height direction, the two or more residual material detection stations are set at equal or unequal intervals in the height direction of the material box, and at least one residual material detection station is set at a position relatively close to the bottom of the material box, so that when the capacitance material level meter 120 corresponding to the residual material detection station reports empty, it can promptly remind the relevant operating personnel that the material box reports empty, or the residual material in the material box is less than the preset threshold value.

[0029] The following is a detailed Figure 1 Taking the residual material detection device 100 shown in FIG as an example, the principle of residual material detection implemented by the residual material detection device 100 is explained: Figure 1 The residual material detection device 100 shown in the figure is provided with a first capacitance material level meter 120, a second capacitance material level meter 120, a third capacitance material level meter 120, a fourth capacitance material level meter 120 and a fifth capacitance material level meter 120 from top to bottom, which respectively correspond to the five residual material detection stations of the material box. When the first capacitance material level meter 120 reports empty, it means that the residual material in the current material box is 90%; when the second capacitance material level meter 120 reports empty, it means that the residual material in the current material box is 70%; when the third capacitance material level meter 120 reports empty, it means that the residual material in the current material box is 50%; when the fourth capacitance material level meter 120 reports empty, it means that the residual material in the current material box is 30%; when the fifth capacitance material level meter 120 reports empty, it means that the residual material in the current material box is 0%, that is, the box is reported to be empty, and the corresponding unmanned operation equipment needs to return to replenish the residual material.

[0030] In this way, the residual material detection device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application can complete the residual material detection operation of the material box of the unmanned operation equipment with corresponding detection accuracy by arranging a corresponding number of capacitive material level meters 120 at the corresponding residual material detection stations in the material box of the unmanned operation equipment according to the actual detection accuracy requirements. The entire residual material detection process only involves a few low-cost capacitive material level meters 120, so it can greatly reduce the residual material detection cost while ensuring the residual material detection accuracy. At the same time, since each residual material detection station performs corresponding material level detection through a corresponding capacitance material level meter 120, and the capacitance material level meter 120 can be used to detect the capacitance change at the corresponding residual material detection station caused by the material level change of the material box, that is, the residual material detection device 100 only needs to obtain the capacitance change of each capacitance material level meter 120 to achieve accurate residual material detection operation for the material box of the unmanned operation equipment. During the entire residual material detection process, it is not susceptible to the different shapes of the material box and the fluidity of the medium, such as the detection blind spots and unstable radar echo signals that affect the residual material detection accuracy, as in the radar detection method. It is also not susceptible to the high-frequency vibration and impact interference of the drone, such as the poor stability of the residual material detection value, which affects the residual material detection accuracy, as in the weighing detection method. Therefore, the accuracy of residual material detection is effectively improved. In addition, the capacitance material level meter 120 can also operate in harsh environments such as high and low temperatures and strong magnetic fields, that is, no additional temperature compensation calibration or corresponding anti-magnetic structure is required. Therefore, it can further ensure the accuracy of residual material detection while effectively reducing the overall power consumption or overall cost of the residual material detection device 100.

[0031] In some examples, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the capacitance level meter 120 can specifically be a frequency sweeping capacitance level meter 120. In this way, the material level change can be directly converted into a change in capacitance through the frequency sweeping capacitance level meter 120, and then converted into a unified standard electrical signal and transmitted to the control mainboard 110, so as to achieve the functions of residual material detection and material level detection. Compared with other capacitance level meters 120, the frequency sweeping capacitance level meter 120 also has high sensitivity, can detect subtle changes, can meet high-precision measurement requirements, and responds quickly, thanks to its high and adjustable frequency, it can achieve fast response in both dynamic and static measurements. In addition, compared with other capacitance level meters 120, the frequency sweeping capacitance level meter 120 can be applied to residual material detection of a variety of materials, so it can meet more usage scenario requirements of the residual material detection device 100. Furthermore, the frequency sweeping capacitance level meter 120 may specifically include a capacitor plate 121 and two electrodes 122. The capacitor plate 121 is located on the corresponding residual material detection station, and the two electrodes 122 are electrically connected to the capacitor plate 121 to form a frequency sweeping capacitance level meter 120. In this way, when the material to be measured in the material box passes between the two electrodes 122, a capacitor can be formed. At this time, after the voltage is applied between the capacitor plates 121, the capacitance value measured by the capacitance sensor represents the material in the middle of the capacitor plate 121. A dielectric with a dielectric constant of ε is filled between the two electrodes 122, and the dielectric constants of different media are different (this is because the molecular structures and chemical compositions of different media are different, resulting in different responses to electric fields). When the material level changes, the corresponding capacitance changes, and the level of the material can be detected. Furthermore, the two electrodes 122 are arranged at intervals, and the arrangement direction of the two electrodes 122 is perpendicular to the height direction of the material box. In this way, this structural setting can ensure that the two electrodes 122 are at the same height of the material box, thereby further ensuring the detection accuracy of the scanning type capacitance level meter 120.

[0032] It is understandable that, for those skilled in the art, when the material is solid or liquid, the sweeping-type capacitance level meter 120 in this example can also be replaced by a fixed-type capacitance level meter 120 .

[0033] In some examples, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the electrode 122 can be specifically a low temperature coefficient metal electrode 122. In this way, since the low temperature coefficient metal electrode 122 has a lower temperature coefficient, the ability of the present sweep-type capacitance level meter 120 to adapt to different temperature environments can be further improved, thereby improving the overall temperature stability of the present residual material detection device 100. Furthermore, the low temperature coefficient metal electrode 122 can be specifically any one of a platinum electrode 122, a gold electrode 122, and a nickel electrode 122. In this way, by using any one of the platinum electrode 122, the gold electrode 122, and the nickel electrode 122 as the electrode 122 of the present sweep-type capacitance level meter 120, the ability of the present sweep-type capacitance level meter 120 to adapt to different temperature environments can be further improved, thereby improving the overall temperature stability of the present residual material detection device 100.

[0034] In some examples, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the residual material detection device 100 specifically further includes a device housing 130, in which a first installation station and at least one second installation station are provided. The first installation station is used to install the control mainboard 110. The at least one second installation station is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the at least one residual material detection station, and when the device housing 130 is provided in a material box, the at least one second installation station and the at least one residual material detection station are provided in a one-to-one correspondence and overlap. Each capacitance level meter 120 is installed on a second installation station and partially exposed on the surface of the device housing 130. In this way, through the above-mentioned structural setting, the main body of the control mainboard 110 and the at least one capacitance level meter 120 can be placed in the isolation protection of the device housing 130, so as to prevent the material in the material box from contaminating these components, while greatly extending the service life of these components.

[0035] It is understandable that, to facilitate installation and maintenance of the control mainboard 110 and the at least one capacitance level meter 120 in the device housing 130 , at least one side of the device housing 130 may be provided with a cover structure that can be opened at any time.

[0036] In some examples, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the device housing 130 may specifically include a first surface 131, which extends along the length of the device housing 130. When the residual material detection device 100 is vertically installed in the material box, the first surface 131 is used to abut and securely connect with the first inner wall of the material box, which extends along the height direction of the material box. Thus, through the above-mentioned structural arrangement, the abutment between the first surface 131 and the first inner wall of the material box allows the residual material detection device 100 to be more smoothly installed vertically in the material box, thereby further ensuring the detection accuracy of the residual material detection device 100.

[0037] It can be understood that when the first surface 131 in this example abuts against the first inner wall of the material box, the two can be fixedly connected by corresponding screw structures.

[0038] In some examples, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the device housing 130 further includes a second surface 132, which extends along the length of the device housing 130 and is disposed adjacent to or opposite to the first surface 131. The second surface 132 is provided with at least one probe opening corresponding to at least one second installation station. Each probe opening is used to expose the probe of the capacitance level meter 120 installed at the corresponding second installation station. Thus, through the above-described structural arrangement, it is ensured that the probe of each capacitance level meter 120 is exposed on the surface of the device housing 130, ensuring that it can perform normal residual material detection operations.

[0039] It can be understood that when the capacitance level meter 120 in this example is the swept-frequency capacitance level meter 120 in the above example, the probe of the capacitance level meter 120 mentioned in this example can specifically be the two electrodes 122 of the swept-frequency capacitance level meter 120 in the above example. At this time, each probe opening can specifically include two probe holes to expose a corresponding electrode 122 respectively.

[0040] In some examples, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the device housing 130 specifically includes a third surface, which is arranged at a preset angle with the length direction of the device housing 130. The third surface is used to abut and securely connect with the second inner wall of the material box when the residual material detection device 100 is installed at an angle in the material box. The preset angle is 10° to 80°, and the second inner wall extends perpendicular to the height direction of the material box. In this way, through the above-mentioned structural arrangement, the abutment between the third surface and the second inner wall of the material box allows the residual material detection device 100 to be installed more smoothly at an angle in the material box, further ensuring the detection accuracy of the residual material detection device 100.

[0041] It is understandable that the second inner portion in this example is specifically the bottom wall of the material box. When the third surface in this example abuts against the second inner wall in the material box, the two can be fixedly connected by corresponding screw structures.

[0042] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and does not limit the patent scope of the present application. All equivalent structural transformations made by using the contents of the present application specification and drawings under the utility model concept of the present application, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields are included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A residual material detection device is used for residual material detection operation of material boxes of unmanned operation equipment, characterized in that: At least one residual material detection station is provided in the material box along its height direction. The residual material detection device includes a control mainboard and at least one capacitive material level meter. At least one capacitive material level meter is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with at least one residual material detection station. Each capacitive material level meter is located at the corresponding residual material detection station, and each capacitive material level meter is connected to the control mainboard for signal transmission. The capacitive material level meter is used to detect changes in capacitance at the corresponding residual material detection station caused by changes in the material level of the material box.

2. The residual material detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The capacitance level meter is a frequency sweeping capacitance level meter.

3. The residual material detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The frequency sweeping capacitance material level meter includes a capacitance plate and two electrodes. The capacitance plate is located on the corresponding residual material detection station. The two electrodes are electrically connected to the capacitance plate respectively to form the frequency sweeping capacitance material level meter.

4. The residual material detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The two electrodes are arranged at intervals, and the arrangement direction of the two electrodes is perpendicular to the height direction of the material box.

5. The residual material detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The electrodes are low temperature coefficient metal electrodes.

6. The residual material detection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The low temperature coefficient metal electrode is any one of a platinum electrode, a gold electrode and a nickel electrode.

7. The residual material detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The residual material detection device further comprises a device housing, wherein a first installation station and at least one second installation station are provided in the device housing, wherein: The first installation station is used to install the control mainboard; At least one of the second installation stations is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with at least one of the residual material detection stations, and when the device housing is arranged in the material box, at least one of the second installation stations is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with at least one of the residual material detection stations, and each of the capacitive level meters is installed on a second installation station and is partially exposed on the surface of the device housing.

8. The residual material detection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The device housing includes a first surface, which extends along the length direction of the device housing. The first surface is used to abut and be fixedly connected with the first inner wall in the material box when the residual material detection device is vertically installed in the material box. The first inner wall extends along the height direction of the material box.

9. The residual material detection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The device housing also includes a second surface, which extends along the length direction of the device housing and is adjacent to or opposite to the first surface. The second surface is provided with at least one probe opening corresponding to at least one of the second installation stations, and each of the probe openings is used to expose the probe of the capacitive level meter installed on the corresponding second installation station.

10. The residual material detection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The device housing includes a third surface, which is arranged at an angle of a preset angle to the length direction of the device housing. The third surface is used to abut and fix the second inner wall of the material box when the residual material detection device is installed obliquely in the material box. The preset angle is 10° to 80°, and the second inner wall extends perpendicular to the height direction of the material box.

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